Face Mask for Restaurant Eating

ABSTRACT

A protective face mask comprising a flexible mask body conforming generally to the facial configuration of a wearer and being removably mounted at its upper end on a curved support member engageable with the upper portion of the wearer&#39;s head. The central forward portion of the mask body is provided with a porous section for filtering out particulates and minute spray globules while permitting normal breathing.

BACKGROUND

For conventional masks, there have been proposed various methods of causing peripheral portions of a mask to be held in close contact with skin of a wearer for the purpose of preventing leakage of exhaled aft and intrusion of outside air.

For example, the prior art describes a sanitary mask ear-loop cords attached to both right and left side portions of a mask main body, in which an upper portion of the mask man body is once bent downward to an inner site, and then bent again upward to the inner site, and in which a flexible wire is attached to a leading edge of the upper folded portion so that a central part of the leading edge is expanded to enable immovable support of the mask by causing the mask to be held in close contact from a nose part to cheek parts.

Other prior art describes a mask including a man-body portion for covering the face of a wearer, and ear-loop cords attached to the main-body portion, in which auxiliary pieces each made of an air-permeable material are provided on an inner side of the main-body portion so as to be interposed in gaps between the main-body portion and the face of the wearer.

Other prior art describes a three-dimensional mask including a mask main body formed by bonding a pair of right and left non-woven fabric, sheets to each other, and ear-loop portions provided on both side portions of the mask main body, the mask main body being horizontally opened at the time of wearing of the three-dimensional mask so that a bonded portion of the non-woven fabric sheets projects forward, in which at least parts of folded-back pieces, which are folded back at a fold portion toward a rear surface side of the mask main body, are bonded to upper portions of the non-woven fabric sheets of the mask main body, the folded-back pieces being horizontally connected to each other and formed to rise at the fold portion from the rear surface side of the mask main body in association with horizontal opening movement of the mask main body.

Other prior art describes a three-dimensional mask including a mask main body having a front-surface-side member made of an air-permeable material, a rear-surface-side member made of an air-permeable material and a convex member including a top, the convex member being sandwiched between the front-surface-side member and the rear-surface-side member, so as to project to the front surface side, and ear-loop portions provided on both sides of the mask main body so as to be engaged with the ears of a wearer, in which the mask main body includes an absence region formed below a lower end portion of the convex member, which is free from the convex member, and in which an elastic member having stretchability is arranged between the front-surface-side member and the rear-surface-side member in a lower end portion of the mask main body, the elastic member shrinking to form a jaw accommodating portion.

Other prior art describes a gathered mask including three-dimensional gathers over an upper edge as well as right and left parts on a rear surface of a mask main body, and a wire provided above the upper part.

Other prior art describes a mask including a nose-portion covering piece and a jaw-portion covering piece which are arranged in an overlapping state on a rear surface of a mask main body formed of a filter member such as non-woven fabric and each of which is made of the same material as that for the mask main body, in which an upper edge portion of the nose-portion covering piece is attached to an upper end portion of the mask main body through intermediation of a linear heat-fused portion curved downward in a circular-arc shape from a central portion in a width direction of the mask main body to both side-end portions, in which a lower edge portion of the jaw-portion covering piece is attached to a lower end portion of the mask main body through intermediation of another linear heat-fused portion curved upward in a circular-arc shape from the central portion in the width direction of the mask main body to both the side-end portions, in which an free-end portion of each of the nose-portion covering piece and the jaw-portion covering piece is formed to be expandable rearward, with the respective heat-fused portions being used as fulcrums, and in which cord attachment jigs are mounted to both the side-end portions of the mask main body so that ear-loop cords are attached to the cord attachment jigs.

Other prior art describes a three-dimensional mask made of non-woven fabric, including a face covering portion and ear-loop portions, in which a V-shaped notch is provided to at least one of an upper side and a lower side of a center of the face covering portion so that the face covering portion is provided with three-dimensional properties by bonding both oblique lines of the notch, in which the face covering portion is formed of a continuous and single non-woven fabric piece, and in which a collar portion jettying upward is provided at a center on an upper side of the face covering portion.

SUMMARY

A mask according to the present invention basically includes a main-body portion for covering a mouth of the wearer, a separate but included nose piece, and extended face covering, coupled to the main-body portion the fixation portions fixing the main-body portion to the lower face portion of the wearer.

The main-body portion and extended face covering, are designed to allow for the user to have the mask placed over the face, and extend anywhere from 2 to 12 inches from face. The mask is attached to the face by straps, that are placed around the ears, of a user. The nose piece, is designed to align with a users nose and help secure the mask, to the users face.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a profile view of the mask.

FIG. 2 is a close up side view of the mask.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mask being worn.

FIG. 4A a bottom perspective view of the mask being worn in one way.

FIG. 4B is a bottom perspective view of the mask being worn in a second way.

FIG. 5 is a second embodiment of the mask.

FIG. 6A is a second embodiment of the mask.

FIG. 6B is a second embodiment of the mask.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a mask of the present invention is described in detail based on preferred embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings. In the specification of the present invention, when the mask of the present invention is actually worn, a side close to skin of a wearer is referred to as “inner” side and a side far therefrom is referred to as “outer” side. In addition, when the mask of the present invention is actually worn, a side corresponding to an upper side of a body of the wearer is referred to as “upper” side and a side corresponding to a lower side thereof is referred to as “lower” side.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of a mask according to the present invention.

A mask 10 according to the present invention basically includes a main-body portion 60 for covering a mouth of the wearer, a separate but included nose piece, 50, and extended ice covering, 70, coupled to the main-body portion 60, the fixation portions 90 fixing the main-body portion 10 to the lower face portion of the wearer.

The main-body portion, 60, and extended face covering, 70, are designed to allow for the user to have the mask, 10, placed over the face, and extend anywhere from 2 to 12 inches from face. The mask is attached to the face by straps, 30, that are placed around the ears, 40, of a user. The nose piece, 50, is designed to align with a users nose and help secure the mask, 10, to the users face.

In the present invention, a structure of the main-body portion, 60, is not particularly limited. For example, the main-sheet portion may have a planar shape free from the pleats. Alternatively, the main-sheet portion may have a three-dimensional structure of projecting outward at a central portion in the horizontal direction.

One of preferred modes of the main-body portion 60 is to include a laminated body including an inner-surface sheet, a pathogen inactivating layer, and an outer-surface sheet laminated in the stated order from the wearer side. As described below, it is preferred that the pathogen inactivating layer be made of a plurality of sheet-like materials.

Materials for the inner-surface sheet are not particularly limited. For example, it is possible to employ: non-woven fabrics such as a dry-process non-woven fabric, a wet-process non-woven fabric, a spun-melt non-woven fabric, and a spun-lace non-woven fabric; a chemical fiber textile; and knits. Of those, materials having lower basis weight are preferred because of excellent air-permeability.

In particular, one of preferred modes of the inner-surface sheet is to be made of a porous material, Specific examples of the porous material include: a net-like, mesh-like, or gauze-like non-woven fabric; a film with openings; and a net, a mesh, and laces obtained by interweaving or knitting chemical synthetic filaments. When the porous inner-surface sheet is employed, a contact area against the skin decreases, which provides excellent wearing comfort to the wearer.

Further, another of the preferred modes of the inner-surface sheet is to have a ridge-and-furrow-shaped projection-and-recess structure formed on a surface thereof. In this mode, the contact area against the skin decreases, and the inner-surface sheet has cushioning properties. Thus, what is called a “soft touch” feel can be obtained, which provides excellent wearing comfort to the wearer.

Further, still another of the preferred modes of the inner-surface sheet is to be formed of a film with funnel-like openings. This mode is advantageous in that exhaled air is dispersed in a distributive manner, and hence the entire surface of a laminated body can be easily and efficiently used.

The inner-surface sheet may be made of a hydrophilic material or a hydrophobic material.

As a material for the inner-surface sheet, there may be used a material that has undergone dirt-proof treatment, antimicrobial treatment, water-repellent treatment, or the like.

Further, it is preferred that the material for the inner-surface sheet be excellent in safety in case of being ingested from the mouth into the body of the wearer.

Still further, it is preferred that the material for the inner-surface sheet does not generate powder dust, dropped waste fiber, and the like, for example, through friction during use.

Yet further, it is preferred that the material for the inner-surface sheet be resistant to stain and adhesion of body fat or cosmetics such as a lipstick owing to contact with the lips of the wearer.

Yet further, it is preferred that the material for the inner-surface sheet be able to prevent growth of pathogens exhaled from the wearer and indigenous bacteria on the surface thereof.

The inner-surface sheet may be arranged over the entire laminated body, or may be arranged at a part of the laminated body, for example, arranged at a part in abutment with a periphery of the lip portion.

Alternatively, the inner-surface sheet may be arranged by being merely laminated on the pathogen inactivating layer, and the surface of the inner-surface sheet and a surface of the pathogen inactivating layer may be integrated with each other by bonding.

When the inner-surface sheet and the pathogen inactivating layer are merely laminated on each other, it is possible to easily practice a mode in which the inner-surface sheet and the pathogen inactivating layer are separated from each other so that the inner-surface sheet is replaceable. In this mode, for example, in a case of using the mask according to the present invention for a long period of time, by replacement of the inner-surface sheet at the time of taking of a mask for dining, bathing, and the like, it is possible to maintain a clean state and provide excellent wearing comfort as an unused product.

Materials for the outer-surface sheet are not particularly limited. For example, it is possible to employ: non-woven fabrics such as a dry-process non-woven fabric, a wet process non-woven fabric, a spur-met non-woven fabric, and a spun-lace non-woven fabric; a chemical fiber textile; and knits. Of those, materials having a relatively high density and relatively-fine fineness of the constituent fiber are preferred because the following can be captured: airborne droplets and the like scattered by exhalation of the wearer; and dust and the like carried by inhalation of the wearer.

In particular, a spun-melt non-woven fabric made of synthetic fibers such as PE, PP, PET, EVA, a PE/PP bicomponent fiber, and a PE/PET bicomponent fiber is preferred, and an SMS (spun-bonded layer, melt-blown layer, and spun-bonded layer) non-woven fabric and an SMMS (spun-bonded layer, meat-blown layer, melt-blown layer, and spun-bonded layer) non-woven fabric, which are laminated bodies formed with melt blowing non-woven fabric, are more preferred.

The outer-surface sheet may be made of a hydrophilic material or a hydrophobic material.

As a material for the outer-surface sheet, there may be used a material that has undergone dirt-proof treatment, antimicrobial treatment, water-repellent treatment, or the like.

Further, it is preferred that the material for the outer-surface sheet have a smooth surface so that the surface is resistant to stain even when the surface is touched by the hand at the time of taking off the mask according to the present invention.

Still further, it is preferred that the material for the outer-surface sheet does not generate powder dust, or cause fuzz loss, and the like, for example, through friction during use.

The outer-surface sheet may be arranged over the entire laminated body, or may be arranged at a part of the laminated body.

Alternatively, the outer-surface sheet may be arranged by being merely laminated under the pathogen inactivating layer, and the surface of the outer-surface sheet and the surface of the pathogen inactivating layer may be integrated with each other by bonding.

The pathogen inactivating layer is a layer for inactivating pathogens.

In the present invention, the term “pathogens” collectively refers to microbes, viruses, and the like which cause respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis, influenza, pneumonia, bronchitis, and pharyngitis. Specifically, bacteria, molds, rickettsiae, mites, and viruses can be exemplified.

In the present invention, the term “inactivation” means harmlessness treatment, detoxication, paralyzation, and the like with respect to activities of the pathogens. Examples of specific means for inactivation include filtration removal, adsorptive removal, thermal denaturation, chemical denaturation, and antibody responses.

The structure of the pathogen inactivating layer is not particularly limited as long as a function of inactivating the pathogens is exerted. However, the pathogen inactivating layer is preferred to be made of one or more sheet-like materials, and more preferred to be made of a plurality of sheet-like materials.

In this case, one of preferred modes of the pathogen inactivating layer is that at least one of the plurality of sheet-like materials forming the pathogen inactivating layer is folded. In this mode, a folding rate obtained by dividing an area prior to folding of the folded sheet by an area in a folded state of the sheet is preferred to be 1.5 or more, and more preferred to be 2.0 or more.

Although the stretchable material is not particularly limited, the following three stretchable materials can be exemplified.

(1) Stretchable Material Made of a Filamentary Elastic Body (Elastic Yarn)

Specifically, the following can be exemplified: what is called a tape-like or tubular rubber band obtained by kitting or weaving elastic yarns such as a rubber yarn and polyurethane filaments; a stretchable knit or textile obtained by interknitting or interweaving an elastic yarn and synthetic filaments such as nylon filaments and polyester filaments; and materials stretchable along with deformation of composition, such as a stretchable bandage, a tubular bandage, and a stretchable supporter which are obtained by forming an elastic yarn and a spun yarn into a net-like shape or additionally into a tubular shape. Specifically, a stretchable bandage obtained by interknitting urethane filaments and a cotton yarn (more specifically, stretchable bandage manufactured by Hakujuji Co., ltd.) can be exemplified.

(2) Stretchable Films

Specifically, the followings can be exemplified: synthetic, resin films such as a polyurethane film, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) film, a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) copolymer film, and a styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) film; and synthetic non-woven fabrics such as a polyurethane non-woven fabric. The stretchable films include a stretchable film haying a constant stretchability in any direction, a stretchable film having a stretchability only in one direction, and a stretchable film having stretchabilities different from each other between one direction and another direction.

(3) Laminated Body Made of Non-Woven Fabrics and the Stretchable Material of item (1) Above or the Stretchable Films of Item (2) Above

Specifically, the followings can be exemplified: a laminated body obtained by bonding two non-woven fabric pieces with a bonding agent over and beneath a plurality of elastic yarns, which are arrayed in parallel and extended; and a laminated body formed of a SEBS film and a non-woven fabric having a high stretchability in one direction (stretchability in the one direction is higher than a stretchability in the direction orthogonal to the one direction). More specific examples of such laminated bodies include FlexAire 541 Elastic Laminate manufactured by Tredegar Corporation in the U.S., which is a stretchable material having a unidirectional extensibility.

Stretchabilities in the horizontal direction of the lower belt-like body and the upper belt-like body of the mask according to the present invention have an influence on prevention of a shift of wearing positions of the mask. Thus, it is preferred to employ a stretchable material which easily stretches rightward and leftward with a low tension, and less deforms in the width direction, and whose stretchability in the one direction is higher than a stretchability in the direction orthogonal to the one direction.

In the present invention, the expression “belt-like” means that a horizontal length is longer than a vertical length and that a length (thickness) in a front-to-rear direction is rather shorter (smaller) than those lengths.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a perspective bottom view of the according to the present invention. The mask, 10, has an opening on the bottom, 90, that allow air and other objects to come into contact with the main-body portion, 60. The bottom also has a flap, 100, that is used for further protection and structural support. FIG. 4B shows the main body portion, 60, lowered by a user to allow food, drink, and other items as desired to be passed into a users mouth. Once the desired items are placed in the users mouth, the main body portion, 60, may be returned to its original, protective position. FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B show a different embedment of the same invention.

Hereinabove, description has been made of the mask according to the present invention based on the illustrated embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to those embodiments. For example, the configuration of each portion can be replaced with an arbitrary configuration capable of exerting a similar function.

Further, the configurations of the portions according to the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined with each other so that another embodiment of the mask is carried out.

The mask according to the present invention is less liable to shift in wearing position, and hence can be suitably and variously used. 

1. A mask, including: a main-body portion for covering a lower face portion of a wearer, an attached nose covering portion, an extended face covering portion and at least one fixation portion for fixing the main-body portion, attached nose covering portion, and extended face covering portion to the lower face portion of the wearer, the at least one fixation portion being coupled to the main-body portion, wherein the main-body portion includes: a main covering body to cover the mouth of a user; wherein the nose covering portion includes a wire to shape the nose covering portion to a users nose that will cover the nostrils of a users nose without covering the users mouth; wherein the extended portion includes a left and right side upper covering portion, a bottom extended flap covering portion, and a bottom opening portion designed to allow the passage of items to a users mouth. 